How to Not Let Overactive Bladder Interfere With Your Life

Created: 07/01/2019

Last Updated: 07/01/2019

Share on:

By Nicole Kwan

Repeatedly getting up from social gatherings to use the bathroom and waking up in the middle of the night to urinate are incredibly stressful, real effects of overactive bladder. Fortunately, there are doable lifestyle modifications that can help you take your life back in control.

Monitor fluid intake.
In general, most people drink too much fluids, says Elizabeth Kavaler, M.D., urogynecologist, urologist, and managing partner of Total Urology Care of New York in New York City.

"It's helpful, but sometimes when it's truly an overactive bladder, it's a neurological problem," Kavaler says, explaining that weekend nervous system signals are what initiate the bladder to contract, causing you to urinate whether you intend to or not. "Telling someone to do Kegals then can be very frustrating."

Find a wearable solution that works for you.There are so products for managing incontinence, and Kavaler says it's about finding a solution that works best for you. Do you want something that's styled like underwear or pad? What kind of clothing are you wearing? Do you want a reusable, cotton pad?

"Companies put a lot of time and energy to make pads effective, and there's a lot of competition," she says. "A lot make very sophisticated, effective products."